News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Monterey Board of Alderman has developed a baseline of changes to the city’s alcohol ordinance to allow the establishment of microbreweries.
During a Thursday work session with city attorney Brett Knight, four wants were established by the aldermen. Mayor J.J Reels said officials made good progress towards their goal.
“Overall, I think it went well,” Reels said. “We got some headway of how we want to proceed with it. What restrictions we want to have. How we want to do it. Where we want to do it. The restrictions of the number of businesses.”
Reels said he wants the breweries to have at least 25 percent of sales come from food. Alderman Alex Garcia said he would like to see the amount of establishments be limited to three. Other ideas mentioned were establishing a minimum of gallons brewed, and the owner must also own the property.
“It’s not going to be a bar coming in,” Reels said. “It’s going to be some place that people can go and seat down and eat and if they want to have a beer.”
Two breweries have already expressed interest in creating a location in Monterey. Reels said these added businesses could bring more tax revenue to the town.
“We’re just trying to do what we can to increase our tax base,” Reels said. “If we get an increase in tax base, we can pay for more roads and other things.”
Knight said he will take all the considerations and create a draft to be reviewed at the next work session on March 11th at 6:30 p.m.
